SHIMLA: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said people of this tribal district have been waiting for getting land on lease under Forest Rights Act (FRA) for the last 16 years. Now the wait is over and as many as 107 people are being provided land on lease today itself, he said.
He said out of which 60 cases are under FRA and 47 cases were of ‘Nautor’. He also provided ‘Bhoo-patta’ to 60 beneficiaries on the occasion.
Thakur said this was an historic step and would go a long way in providing land to the people of tribal areas.
While inaugurating the State Level Tribal Dance and Craft Mela at Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district today, he said people of tribal areas are known for their simplicity, hard work and commitment.
He also remembered the contributions of late T.S. Negi and late Chet Ram towards the development of the tribal areas and for their discipline and work culture.
Thakur said state Government has made a budget provision of Rs. 3619 crore for the development of tribal areas of the state from 2018-19 to 2022-23.
The developmental projects worth over Rs. 350 crore have been sanctioned and approved for Kinnaur district alone during the last about four and a half years, which shows the commitment of the State Government towards development of these areas, he added.
Jai Ram Thakur accused the opposition leaders of misleading the people of the tribal areas in the name of development.
"It was unfortunate a few opposition leaders were publicly claiming that on coming to power they would discontinue the schemes initiated by the present State Government", he said.
He asked the opposition leaders whether they would stop providing social security pension, or stop providing free gas connections or discontinue providing benefits of Sahara Yojna, HIMCARE Yojna, Shagun Yojna etc.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government was providing 50 per cent concession to women in bus fare in HRTC buses and free power upto 125 units per month to domestic consumers.
Chief Minister announced opening of sub tehsil at Katgaon, PHC at Pangi, upgradation of PHC Spillow to CHC, sanctioning of one post of District Tourism Officer at Kinnaur, starting of MA Sociology and English courses at T.S. Negi Government College Reckong Peo, construction of Circuit House at Reckong Peo.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 19 developmental projects worth Rs. 53.78 crore at Police Ground, Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district.
Chief Minister inaugurated Rs. 7.25 crore Kisan Bhawan at Reckong Peo, Rs. 3.72 crore additional block for T.S. Negi Government College Reckong Peo, Rs. 92 lakh barracks for Home Guard at Sharbo Reckong Peo and Rs. 1.93 crore Combined Lab at GSSS Kanam.
Jai Ram Thakur laid foundation stones of Rs. 1.08 crore Primary School Building at Namgia, Rs. 2.80 crore Type-IV quarters at Regional Hospital Reckong Peo, Rs. 2.11 crore Type-IV and Type-III quarters for employees of Animal Husbandry at Reckong Peo and orher projects.
Vice Chairman State Forest Corporation Surat Negi thanked CM and tabled some developmental demands of the area.
Deputy Commissioner Kinnaur Abid Hussain Sadiq welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed various events being organized during the three day State Level Tribal Dance and Craft Mela.
Former MLA Tejwant Negi, President District BJP Sanjiv, Chairman Zila Parishad Nihal Charas, Principal Secretary Tribal Development Onkar Chand Sharma, Superintendent of Police Kinnaur Ashok Ranjan were present on the occasion among others.
